August 18, 2009

is for Queen of Hearts. In the 1990s the hearts of curlers everywhere were captured by an attractive, outgoing, and talented woman by the name of Sandra Schmirler. Over a six year period, from 93-98, Schmirler guided her team of Jan Betker, Joan McCusker, and Marcia Gudereit to three Canadian Championship titles, three World Championship titles, and an Olympic gold medal. They were perhaps the first women's team to dominate the sport in a significant way, and certainly one of the first women's teams to become strong ambassadors for the sport. To this day, they are considered to be among the best women's teams to ever play the game.

Sandra Schmirler succumbed to cancer in 2000, at the too-young age of 36. She left behind a loving husband and two young children. She is remembered as The Queen of (the Scott Tournament of) Hearts.